Spanish Grammar
Pronunciation Guide
Click the play button to hear the pronunciation:
Hola (Hello):
Gracias (Thank you):
Phonetic Guide for Spanish Sounds
| Spanish Sound | IPA Symbol | English Approximation | Example Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | [a] | "a" in "father" | casa (house) |
| e | [e] | "e" in "bet" | mesa (table) |
| i | [i] | "ee" in "see" | libro (book) |
| o | [o] | "o" in "go" | oso (bear) |
| u | [u] | "oo" in "moon" | uva (grape) |
Pronunciation Tips
- Spanish vowels are shorter and crisper than in English.
- The letter 'h' is always silent in Spanish.
- The letter 'j' is pronounced like a strong 'h' sound in English.
- The letter 'ñ' is pronounced like 'ny' in "canyon".
- Roll your 'r' sounds, especially when they appear at the beginning of words.
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Common Pronunciation Mistakes
- Rolling 'r': English speakers often struggle with the rolled 'r' sound. Practice by saying "tt" quickly, then try to hold the sound.
- Silent 'h': Remember that 'h' is always silent in Spanish. "Hola" is pronounced "o-la", not "ho-la".
- The letter 'v': In Spanish, 'v' is pronounced similarly to 'b'. "Vaca" (cow) sounds more like "baca" to English speakers.
- The letter 'z': In most Spanish-speaking countries, 'z' is pronounced like 's'. "Zapato" (shoe) sounds like "sapato".